David Warner exacts revenge from his former franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by helping Delhi Capitals (DC) win the crucial clash by 21 runs. Warner’s unbeaten 92 and Rovman Powell’s 67 not out helped DC post a daunting target of 208 which was too tough for SRH to chase down. The win helps Capitals rise to the fifth spot and move past SRH and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Horrendous start
SRH's big run chase got off to a poor start. In-form Abhishek Sharma fell to fit-again Khaleel Ahmed in his first over. Skipper Kane Williamson struggled to score and played 10 dot balls. Williamson's misery was ended by Anrich Nortje in the fifth over. Rahul Tripathi scored a few boundaries during fielding restrictions. Bowling for the first time in IPL 2022, Mitchell Marsh got Tripathi's wicket in the seventh over reducing SRH to 37/3.
Markram keeps scorecard running
Aiden Markram tried to revive the run chase with a few big shots. Markram was looking dangerous against a depleted Capitals bowling attack in the absence of Axar Patel. Khaleel came back into the attack and got Markram's wicket. The South African batter scored a 25-ball 42 which included four fours and three sixes.
Pooran’s late charge falls short
Wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran accelerated after Markram's wicket and kept the run chase alive. The left-handed batter got to his half-century from just 29 deliveries. However, wickets kept falling at the other end and the equation went out of hand. In the 18th over, Shardul Thakur got his wicket. Pooran scored 62 runs from 34 deliveries including a couple of fours and six sixes.
In the penultimate over, Marsh conceded a few boundaries. SRH needed 27 runs from the last over which was too big an ask from him. Kuldeep conceded just five runs and got the wicket of Tyagi as SRH managed 186/8, losing the match by 21 runs.
Warner leads
Replacing Prithvi Shaw in the side, Mandeep Singh got out for a five-ball duck in Bhuvneshwar Kumar's first over. Warner started out well against his former franchise and did the bulk of scoring in the powerplay overs. Marsh failed to carry forward his form and got out for a seven-ball 10 to fellow countryman Abbott. Marsh became Abbott's first IPL wicket. After the powerplay overs, DC had 50/2 on board, courtesy Umran Malik's 21-run over.
Pant’s cameo
Rishabh Pant joined Warner in the middle. Pant went ballistic in Shreyas Gopal’s over hitting him for three consecutive sixes and a four. However, the leg-spinner had the last laugh and got the wicket of DC skipper. He scored 26 runs from 16 deliveries.
Record for Warner
Rovman Powell got promoted up the order and supported Warner well. The Australian got to his half-century in the 12th over from 34 deliveries. This was his 89th fifty in T20 cricket, most by any batter in the format.
Big-hitting in slog overs
In the slog overs, Warner and Powell dominated SRH bowlers. Powell smashed Abbott for consecutive sixes whereas Warner hit Bhuvneshwar for boundaries in the penultimate over. In the last over, Malik bowled the second-fastest ball in IPL history clocking at 157 kmph but it did not have an effect on Powell.
The Caribbean batter hit him for 19 runs in the over to help DC post 207/3. He remained unbeaten for 67 off 35 deliveries including three fours and six sixes. On the other end, Warner missed out on his fifth IPL century. The veteran scored 92 runs from 58 deliveries including 12 fours and three sixes. Malik turned out to be the most expensive bowler as he conceded 52 runs. Bhuvneshwar was the most economical with an economy rate of 6.25 runs per over.
